The behavioral analyst advisory committee of the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board welcomed a new member and reviewed committee expectations and public-meeting rules during a remote meeting on Oct. 10.

The welcome and roll call opened the meeting. Linda Heisman Powell, chair of the behavioral analyst advisory committee and the psychology representative on the BSRB, led introductions and asked members to describe their backgrounds to help the new member, Holly Kramer, get oriented. Kramer said she lives in Russell, Kansas, is senior clinical director for Heartland ABA and advocates for rural access to services.

The nut graf: Committee leadership and BSRB staff described the committee’s role as an advisory panel to the board, explained statutory limits on out-of-meeting communication, and reviewed logistics for remote attendance and public access via the board’s YouTube channel.

David Fye, executive director for the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, outlined expectations for attendance, document review and how the advisory committee supports the board’s work. He told members the committee can make recommendations to the board and that the board, as a state agency, ultimately considers and acts on those recommendations.

Fye reviewed compliance requirements under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (often abbreviated COMA in discussion) and the Kansas Open Records Act (CORA). He said interactive communications that would reach a majority of members on a committee topic should occur at a public meeting, and that email “reply-all” discussions among a majority of members could create an unlawful meeting outside the public view. He also reminded members that committee-related communications could be subject to records requests under CORA.

Leslie Allen, assistant director and licensing manager for the BSRB, reiterated administrative details about meeting notices, agenda posting on ksbsrb.ks.gov, and how the public may request agendas or report technical issues via bsrb@ks.gov. Members were also reminded that recordings of meetings are posted to the board’s YouTube channel after the session concludes.

Committee members described their professional backgrounds in higher education, clinical practice and nonprofit advocacy during brief introductions. Several members emphasized the need to maintain a clear line between any private advocacy work and the committee’s advisory role to the state agency.

The committee approved the meeting agenda and the previous meeting minutes by motion and voice vote before proceeding to substantive items.